Rules
1. This is a safe environment, you are hear to learn more about others.
2. Differences that are highlighted should be celebrated instead of insulted.
3. If you have questions, ask in a respectful way.

Important Links
September 11th Museum
ePals website (type in your username and password given out in class)
ePals student info doc (used to log the people you are communicating with)
ePals collaborative website
Blog from Russian classroom

ePals information
Rules
1. Do not give out or ask for personal information (phone numbers, addresses, Facebook)
2. Be respectful. In our classroom we are in a safe and closed environment. When you chat with someone in ePals, you are essentially out in the real world. Be aware of what you say and how you are saying it.
3. If you are unsure of something you are writing, ask Mr. Vogt. It is better to check first than to send something you are unsure about.


Parents
As part of the tolerance unit during the first quarter, students will get the chance to have a digital pen pal from various locations around the world. At this time, I have connected with a classroom in India. As others email back, we may have more classrooms in other parts of the world. The website we are using can be found here: http://www.epals.com. All messages will be sent to my account first, so I will have the chance to monitor all communication going from or to your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. My contact information can be found on the General Information page of this website.



Tolerance Scenarios

Scenario #1: Two kids on bus going back and forth. One says, “you’re a terrorist.” How would you feel if you were the target? What could you do if you were observing?

Scenario #2: Friends are excluding you because you can’t date due to your religion. How do you feel? How do you handle it?

Scenario #3:It is the first day of school and you notice that there is a girl that is wearing a headscarf on in your class. You see other students staring at her and starting to whisper. The girl with the headscarf notices a group looking at her and whispering. What do you do? Explain how this situation may play out.

Scenario #4: You decide to hang out with your friends after school and walk to the nearest gas station. You walk in to see an older group of teenagers teasing the clerk because he is wearing a Turban on his head. One of those teenagers calls him a terrorist as their group leaves the gas station. How do you react? What do you say?

Scenario #5: It is lunch and a boy is sitting alone on the lunch table eating. A group of boys walk pass and tell him to get out of their spot. The boy tries to ignore them and continues eating his lunch. The boy looks as if he is Middle Eastern. The group then starts to tease him and end with “Go back to your own country.” You are sitting on the table next to him and you hear it all. What do you do?

Scenario #6: You are in social studies class and a Muslim classmate shares that a relative of hers died in one of the World Trade Centers on September 11th. Immediately, a classmate shouts, “Yeah, he was probably one of the terrorists.” As a student sitting in that class, what do you do? Do you react to this situation right away or do you do something later?

Scenario #7: One of your friends comes up to tell you a funny story. She proceeds to say that she called a mutual friend, Lisa, last night and her father answered the phone. She began to laugh and make fun of Lisa’s dad’s accent and how she couldn’t understand a word. She explains that all she can hear is “ching, ching, chang”. What do you do? Explain why.

Scenario #8: A friend tries to explain her cultural traditions for an upcoming holiday that she is super excited about. You don’t show any interest and you make a comment about how silly those traditions sound. You notice your friend becomes a little upset and walks away. What are some things you did wrong and how do you fix this situation genuinely?

Scenario #9: You were invited to a family member’s house for a big dinner. One of your relatives starts to crack jokes and laugh at stereotypes about other ethnicities. You know in your heart this is not right and it kind of makes you feel uncomfortable. Do you just stay quiet and laugh periodically to not be disrespectful or do you say something because you do not agree with these stereotypes.


Memorials
Colosseum.jpg Vietnam War Memorial.jpg

Holocaust Memorial.jpg


September 11th Museum